CHICAGO SYNDICATE

US, 1955, 84 minutes, Black-and-white.
Dennis O' Keefe, Abbe Lane, Paul Stewart, Xavier Cugat, Alison Hayes, Richard H. Cutting.
Directed by Fred F. Sears.

In the late 1940s and the first half of the 1950s, there were quite a number of American films which looked like documentaries, exposes of criminal organisations and the details of investigations, undercover work, exposing the syndicates. While this is something of a supporting feature, it is quite effective in what it presents.

The setting is Chicago, a quarter of a century after Al Capone (who is acknowledged at the beginning of the film). It seems in the postwar years, criminals were setting up networks around the nation, capitalising on gambling, prostitution, shakedowns. (There is no mention of the Mafia – but the parallels are, of course, interesting.)

Dennis O’ Keefe is a veteran of the war in the Pacific and is prevailed upon by the leaders in Chicago to go undercover and to get evidence to expose the Chicago Syndicate. He moves fairly briskly, insinuating himself into the favour of the syndicate chief, Paul Stewart. The chief has a mistress, played by singer Abbe Lane who does get to do some songs with her then husband, Xavier Cugat, who also has a role in the film as her protector. There is also a mysterious woman, played by Alison Hayes, who has quite some connections, working undercover herself, and helping in the final expose.

The film uses the city of Chicago itself quite expertly. The audience feels that it has been there. The film has a brief running time, capitalises on the undercover work of the accountant, shows the syndicate leader with some kind of human background, his doting mother, his having looked at the Capone type of criminal in the past and determining to do otherwise.

The voice-over does admit that this with a not the last of the syndicates!


1. Contemporary crime story? The 1950s? The memories of Al Capone and the initial images? The memories of the 1930s?

2. The intentions, exposing syndicated crime, cleaning up syndicates?

3. The Chicago settings, the use of the city itself, streets, buildings, warehouses and factories, offices, clubs? Seedy districts? The musical score, the songs – and Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat, and as part of the plot?

4. The accountant, coming to the editor, willing to expose the syndicate, his being shot on the sidewalk? The narrator, the editor? His gathering together the city leaders, their finding the money to pay an investigator?

5. The recommendation of Barry Amsterdam, his role in the war? Setting up his own legal and financial company? His being wary of the offer, his saying he was being shamed into accepting, the $60,000? His personality?

6. Going into action immediately, going to the club, getting in via Susan? Her gambling, his reactions? Looking in the open door? His being followed, setting people up? Indicating that he could identify the killer? The interrogation? His being shrewd, the discussions with Arnie Valent? Pretending that he was after money? Ingratiating himself? Valent taking a liking to him? Giving him jobs, accounts, going to the firm, the issue with the insurance and the necklace, using a police contact as cover? $5000 fee, accepted into the syndicate?

7. Arnie Valent, his background, his visits to his mother, explanations about his growing up, looking at the gangster models of the 30s, deciding to follow a different line? His success? The secrecy of his books, kept at home? Kern, the exposure, ordering his killing? His range of thugs?

8. Barry, being followed, at the Museum and the quick interchange of information? Contact with the bosses? Barry becoming impatient, feeling they would never get the
evidence?

9. Connie, with Benny, her performances? Arnie having her as a mistress? Her drinking, her jealousy? The clashes with Barry? The rivalry with Susan?

10. Barry and Susan, her anger at him as a thug? Her being told the truth? Change of heart, collaboration? Getting her father’s documents? The issue of the microfilm and finding who collected it? The plan, Valent’s interest in her, the jealousies and the plan for Connie to break reveal the truth?

11. Valent, the plan for Barry to be a partner, his being covered with Barry to take the blame? His interesting and Susan?

12. The ways of making Connie jealous, the drinking, outbursts, fights with Susan? Susan ringing the police, Connie being bashed, allowing her to ring?

13. The microfilm, Barry making the decision, hitting Valent, taking the microphone, the pursuit through the streets, the shootings? Valent being shot, the arrest?

14. Mission accomplished – but the voice-over and the threats of more corruption?